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The Chicago auto injury lawyers of Zneimer and Zneimer note that new laws changing the way people drive on Illinois roads went into affect at the beginning of 2014. Starting January 1, 2014, a new Illinois law makes it illegal to use a handheld cellphone while operating a motor vehicle. Residents of Chicago already had an ordinance which forbid handheld cellphones while driving but now the practice is forbidden statewide. However, a driver may still legally use a hands free headset, speaker phone or other hands free device when using a cell phone while driving.

Another new law passed by the Illinois General Assembly would raise the speed limit on interstate expressways to 70 mph outside of metropolitan areas. In metropolitan areas around Chicago, St. Louis and Springfield the speed limit will remain 55 mph.

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The Chicago Dog Bite Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. take note of the alarming increase in recent years of payout amounts for claims brought forth under homeowners and renter’s insurance policies for dog bites and dog attacks. According to the National Insurance Institute, the amount paid by insurers for dog bite injury claims have increased from $324.2 Million in 2003, to $489.7 Million in 2012. This represents a nationwide increase of over 50% in the past decade.

When reporting data is delineated by location and insurance provider, the increase in dog bite claims in Illinois is profound when compared with other states. For example, a recent report by State Farm showed that Illinois ranked second in claims paid by that insurer in both 2011 and 2012. Although California ranked first, when adjustments for population are made, Illinois dog bite claim payout totals were still nearly 40% higher. Last year alone, Illinois dog bite claims accounted for 10% of all claims paid by State Farm for dog attack incidents.

In addition, Illinois also ranked amongst the highest in dog bite attacks on postal workers in 2012. According to a 2013 Postal Service study, which compiled a list of the top 10 U.S. cities for dog bite attacks on postal workers, Chicago Illinois was ranked as third, with a total of 41 dog bite incidents occurring in 2012. When compared to the total amount of 2012 dog attacks on postal workers, 5,900, and the fact that there are over 100,000 U.S. cities, this figure is significant considering that many cities with higher or comparable populations did not make the list. Further, Chicago’s 2012 ranking drastically increased from its ranking of 13th in 2011.

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Our train injury lawyers have learned that the railroad experts investigating the CTA Blue Line crash on September 30, 2013, considered emergency recommendations to the Chicago Transit Authority. According to Jon Hilkevitch of Chicago Tribune, the recommendations “could signal concerns of a future accident.”

The accident happened when an empty out-of-service CTA train hit a stopped Blue Line CTA train carrying passengers, injuring many of the passengers.

According to the NTSB’s letter to Forrest Claypool of the CTA,” the unoccupied train had been stored at Forest Park Repair Terminal awaiting repairs when it began moving under power and departed the terminal entering main line track. The train traveled almost one mile downhill through five mechanical train stop mechanisms before reaching the Harlem Station. The emergency brakes were applied and the train was momentarily stopped several times by the mechanical train stop mechanisms as it proceeded to the Harlem Station. Following each stop, train movement resumed because the master lever on the operator console had been left in a setting that allowed the train car brakes to recover and reset from the emergency brake application and proceed through a mechanical train stop mechanism after a momentary stop.”

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A mother whose child suffered personal injuries as a result of school bulling could not maintain a lawsuit against the School District, its superintendent, or the school principal according to the Fourth District of the Appellate Court of Illinois.

Beginning in August 2011, Vilma Hascall complained to the principal of her child’s elementary school about a “bulling situation” involving her child and three classmates. Although the principal promised to “address” the situation, it appears that the principal did not do much because the bullying continued. The mother requested a meeting with the school district superintendent, the principal, the child’s classroom teacher, the police, and the parents of the children that had bullied her child. She only met with the superintendent and the principal who assured her that they will contact the parents.

The bullying continued, however, and the child was cornered into a school bathroom and threatened and harassed. Ms. Hascall complained to the police and the principal called her promising to “take appropriate disciplinary actions.”

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As 72-year-old Stanley Lorkiewicz rode his bicycle in the 7700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in Niles on the morning of September 23, 2013 he was struck by a vehicle. The driver of the motor vehicle remained on the scene until authorities arrived. As the police report was being prepared, Lorkiewicz suddenly collapsed, but was subsequently revived and transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The autopsy results, which are expected to be released by October 1, 2013, should reveal whether the bicycle accident was the cause of Lorkiewicz’s death.

According to police, the incident was initially deemed to be only a ‘minor accident.’ The tragic death of Stanley Lorkiewicz serves as a reminder of the need to seek immediate medical treatment following a bicycling accident, even when the bicyclist, the motorist, and the police are in agreement that the incident was only minor. The Chicago Bicycle Accident Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. offer their condolences to the victim’s grieving family during this difficult time.

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As friends and family mourn the death of 26-year-old Robert “Bobby” Cann, they are joined by bicycling enthusiasts throughout Chicago who are also grieving this tragic loss. Known for his passion for cycling, multi-state treks, and participation in Chicago’s monthly Mass ride, the anguish felt by community residents was clearly evident at the Memorial held in his honor following his death. The bicycle accident attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. join with residents and community activist groups alike in their efforts to push for more safety awareness and avoid preventable tragedies like this one.

The accident occurred on May 29, 2013 while Cann rode his bicycle home from work along Clybourn Avenue, near Larabee Street. As Cann traveled southeast, he was struck from behind by a Mercedes that, just prior, had collided with another vehicle. Although Cann was wearing a helmet at the time of the bicycling accident, the violent impact caused his body to be thrown from his bike, resulting in a severe laceration to his leg. He was rushed by ambulance to a nearby Chicago hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time thereafter.

According to police, the driver of the Mercedes, 28-year-old Ryne San Hamel, had a blood-alcohol content level of .127. Hamel was subsequently charged with reckless homicide, aggravated DUI, misdemeanor DUI, reckless driving, and failure to stay in the lane. In addition to Hamel’s $100,000 bond, his passport was also revoked. Undoubtedly there will be continued controversy over this incident, given Hamel’s blood-alcohol content being less than the legal limit of .08, yet Hamel having clearly been the cause of this tragic bicycle accident.

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Following years of careful planning, construction on Chicago’s Bloomingdale Trail project was initiated on August 27, 2013. The project is part of a network of parks, collectively referred to as the ‘606,’ named for the communities sharing the zipcode prefix 606 that will be linked through several trail access points, with Bloomingdale Park serving as the centerpiece. While the trail access points will be at ground level, the actual park, ‘The Bloomingdale,’ and the trails to the park, will be constructed on the elevated track of land formerly home to the railway system known as the Bloomingdale Line. The Bicycling Accident Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C., look forward to the much needed safety that this network of trails will provide to the residents of our community, and also note the endless amount of additional benefits the project will offer.

The $54 Million Bloomingdale project and larger 606 project, with an estimated $91 Million first-phase expense, are by no mean small endeavors. In fact, with an anticipated 15 acres of park land, it may be one of Chicago’s largest parks and recreation projects since the construction of Millennium Park nearly ten years ago. Many agree that the cost of the project will prove to be a worthy investment in terms of the anticipated economic growth. As stated by Mayor Emanuel during a groundbreaking ceremony, “[The Bloomingdale Trail] is going to do, in my view, for our neighborhoods what Millennium Park has done for our downtown.”

By far, one of the most highly anticipated benefits of the Bloomindale/ 606 project is the manner in which it will link communities together by providing 2.7 miles of throughway connected by points of access spaced in quarter mile increments. As a result, bicyclists and pedestrians will have a safe means for which to travel between communities. As stated by Mayor Emanuel, “it will bring neighborhoods together in a united, unified way.” The current plan calls for access points at the following locations:

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The Pedestrian Accident Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, along with community activist groups and friends and family of the victim, mourn the loss of an Englewood toddler killed at the hands of a drunk driver. The accident occurred at the 5700 Block of South Morgan Street in Englewood on September 20, 2013. As 2-year old Ja’Mya Love walked to daycare with her great-grandmother, the toddler was tragically struck by a motor vehicle. Kellen Bledsoe, is said to have caused the accident after running through a stop sign as the victim and her family approached the intersection. After striking the child, Bledsoe continued driving where he subsequently collided with a parked vehicle. Thereafter, Bledso exited his vehicle and began to flee on foot. Fortunately, authorities were able to take him into custody shortly following a brief pursuit.

According to officials, Bledsoe had an astounding blood-alcohol-level of .252, which represents a level exceeding the legal limit (.08) by more than three times. In addition, officials report that the 27-year-old driver had never been issued a driver’s license, which is likely the reason for his failure to carry insurance coverage as well. Bledso was held in lieu of a half a million dollar bond, where he was later charged with reckless homicide in a construction zone; aggravated DUI in an accident causing death; aggravated DUI in accident by driver without driver’s license; operating a vehicle without a license; and operating a vehicle without insurance.

The Englewood Personal Injury Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. offer their condolences to the family members of little 2-year-old Ja’Mya Love. Having witnessed far too many preventable accidents throughout our City, the toddler’s death serves as reminder of the dangers of sharing Chicago’s roadways with reckless drivers.

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Nearly two years following the vicious dog attack on a 15-year-old boy in Zion Illinois, parties to the dispute reached a settlement agreement granting the victim $1.125 Million for his injuries. According to the Jury Verdict Reporter, this amount represents the largest award for a dog bite attack in Illinois history. As attorneys, who represent dog bite victims in Illinois, this settlement is significant in terms of victim rights, because it sends the message that careless dog owners can and will be held accountable for their inability to control a dangerous animal.

The tragic attack occurred on June 29, 2011, while 15 year old Jordyn Bankston was out riding his bicycle in the Lake County community of Zion. As Jordyn stopped to talk with his friends, a 120 lb Bull Mastiff escaped his owner’s fenced in yard, and charged towards the boys. Although the boys tried to escape, the massive dog was able to reach Jordyn, clenching the child’s arm with his forceful teeth and dragging him to the ground. Despite two neighbors attempting to intervene by kicking the dog, the savage dog attack continued, reports say, for nearly 10 minutes. The boy was eventually freed when a third neighbor burned the dog’s nose with a lit cigarette.

Jordyn was rushed to a nearby hospital in Waukegan, where he remained for nearly a week. As a result of the vicious attack, Jordyn suffered lacerations and puncture wounds to his arms, shoulder, legs, thigh, buttocks and head. Due to the extent of his injuries, the boy also required plastic reconstructive surgery. According to the dog bite attorneys representing the child and his family, “It was a very, very traumatic event. He thought he was going to die.”

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Recent developments in bicycling infrastructure in Chicago, and its surrounding Illinois suburbs are certainly encouraging. However, as with any change, a period of adjustment can be anticipated. Of particular concern are bicycle accidents caused when a driver or passenger exits a vehicle as an oncoming bicyclist approaches. This type of accident is commonly referred to as ‘dooring.’ The bicycle accident attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. caution both vehicle occupants and bicyclists to maintain an awareness of their surroundings as the city implements bicycling infrastructure.

With many bike routes running along the outside, and others now running on the inside of parking spaces, the potential for dooring has perhaps doubled. In areas where bike lane positioning has changed, those used to its previous location, may either fail to look for bicyclists, or don’t think to warn unaware passengers of to watch for oncoming bicyclists. The potential for a bicycling accident is further increased when bicycling infrastructure calls for the creation of a bike lane along a roadway where no lane previously existed. Although signage cautioning motorists to keep a lookout for oncoming bicyclists have aided in the reduction of bicycling accidents caused by dooring, these tragic accidents continue to occur.

Realizing the danger of dooring accidents for bicyclists, Chicago’s Mayor introduced a proposal in May of 2013 that would double the fine for drivers and passengers who ‘door’ a bicyclist, from its previous $500, to $1000. The press release for the Mayor’s proposal can be viewed at the City of Chicago’s official website (www.cityofchicago.org). In addition to increased fines, the Mayor also announces that stickers stating “Look, Before Opening Your Door” will be placed in the rear passenger window of the City’s 7000 cabs. The bicycle accident attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. support the Mayor’s safety initiatives, and are hopeful that it well help to reduce injury and fatality caused by dooring accidents.

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